Kidsday interviews Eli Manning

We met with Eli Manning, quarterback for the Giants, while he was in Manhattan at the Samsung Technology Store in the Time Warner Building. After our interview, he signed footballs and T-shirts for us.

Do you have any fears?

Not a whole lot of fears. I just try to stay healthy. You go out there, compete and play your hardest, and just try to win the game.
 
When you got drafted, what was your time on the 40-yard dash?

My 40-yard dash. I never had to run a 40-yard dash. I was quarterback and no one ever asked me to run one. I would like to say I’d run a 4.7-4.8. But that might be generous for my sake.
 
How did you feel the first time you played an NFL game?

I was nervous, anxious. . . . more excited than anything. I was prepared, I was ready. I was just curious to see if I could compete with these guys; play at this high level. Now it’s just fun. I enjoy going out there and try to have fun and win a ballgame. Great question.
 
Why do you wear uniform number 10?

When I was going to college, I went to the same college as my dad went to and my dad was number 18 and they said you can have number 18. It’s actually retired at Old Miss. They said we’ll bring it out of retirement and you can wear it. I said no, I don’t want to do that, I’d rather wear a different number and they gave me a choice of about 3 or 4 numbers that were available, and I’ve never been number 10 before and I said I’m going to make a fresh start and I’m going to try a new number. So I picked number 10 and I’ve been wearing it ever since.
 
What Giants record are you most proud of?

I don’t know how many Giants records I have right now. I’m still trying to break a few myself. We made the playoffs four years in a row, and I think that’s a Giants record. Being a quarterback and being in the playoffs four years in a row is probably my favorite one right now.
 
What’s the hardest thing about being a quarterback?

I think just managing all your players. You’re kind of responsible for everybody, knowing what to do, week in and week out. Obviously, you have coaches that do that, but you also have to go around and make sure everybody’s happy. You got a lot of receivers, tight ends, running backs who want the ball in every single play, and it doesn’t always happen. So you got to make sure, even if you don’t throw it to them, you come back to them and say, “Hey! I wasn’t going to throw it to you there,” or, “I was looking at you.” Make sure you keep everybody happy.
 
What was the most embarrassing moment on your team?

I don’t know if we had any really embarrassing moments. We didn’t finish the season the way we wanted to. We didn’t win the last few games. So that was disappointing. Try to make sure we don’t do that again.
 
Do you like being famous?

I don’t consider myself famous. I like the fact that I play football. I like being in New York. I like some of those things, but when I see someone who’s famous, I consider them famous, not myself.
 
Do you think you’re going to make it to the playoffs this year?

I hope so. I think we have the right players, the right team chemistry. It’s just a matter of putting it all together to make it right. But I think we have the talent.